Vic government puts $17.6 million towards cyber security strategy

The Victorian government’s 2018-19 budget includes $17.6 million over four years for the state’s first cyber security strategy.

“Funding will be provided to implement the Government’s cyber security strategy to improve detection and prevention capabilities, and responses to cyber-attacks on Victorian Government IT systems,” budget documents state.

“This funding will ensure we have the strong cyber security capabilities we need to protect the delivery of public services across the whole of the government,” the government said.

Under the strategy the Victorian government CISO does not take replace responsibility for security within individual state government agencies but is responsible for co-ordinating “cross-government responses in those areas where a whole-of-government approach is preferable, more efficient and will provide better security outcomes than individual approaches – for example, the creation of whole-of-government cyber services, capabilities, reporting, executive engagement, and information dissemination.”

“We’re getting on with delivering Victoria’s first ever Cyber Security Strategy so we can stay ahead of cyber criminals and protect Victorians’ personal information,” said special minister of state, Gavin Jennings.

“This boost will also build upon our state’s position as the tech capital of Australia and a world-leader in tackling cyber threats.”

The budget also earmarks $2.6 million for the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner